Friday, 23 January 2015

Suddenly, today, the snow has started to go. It is going slowly and has been doing since mid morning. Most of our yard, drives and lawn are now clear, although the field opposite, which is sown with corn, is white over. 'A slow thaw' says the farmer - the very worst sort - it always means that more will be back. 'There's the whole of February to get through yet' he continues - always the cheerful one where the weather is concerned.

Not that it feels any warmer. I seem to pile on the layers when I emerge from the farm - as I did this morning to meet my friends for coffee in town, as we do every Friday. What would we all do without that get-together? I think it is just such meetings which keep everyone going now.

I don't wish to sound defeatist but up here in the Dales this time of the year the Deaths columns in the newspapers get longer and longer as more and more elderly people seem to succumb to the cold, dark, damp weather. How to avoid this (assuming reasonable health) in my book is by having a large circle of friends and keeping cheerful by having a good laugh and keeping the grim reaper at bay. (if I suddenly fall off my perch then he will after all have had the last laugh, but at least I shall go down fighting.)

One cheerful note is that there are a tiny few aconites out just under our bay window - maybe a dozen. I thought we might have lost them all after the farmer dug the whole of the front garden over to get rid of a lot of rubbish prior to lawning it later in the year. There is nothing like a few of these perky little fellows to liven up Winter. And, speaking of perky little fellows, a dozen long tailed tits descended on the fat balls at our bird table just after lunch. When they settle on the fat balls their striped backs and tails make the most beautiful pattern. They never stay long, they just include our bird table in their forage up the holly hedge, making a small detour.

So that's three things today - the aconites and snowdrops under the front window, the long tailed tits and the friends for coffee. Now there is a cosy wood burner to sit in front of and two magazines through the post this morning to read - that'll do me for the day. Keep warm bloggers all.

Had to look up aconite (hangs head).They did a little write up in the paper two years ago about my Auntie Rose when she turned 90. She said her advice for a long life was, "an active lifestyle and a giving attitude." So I would say you are on the right road to 100, Pat!:) m & jb

That sounds like the perfect winter day to me - I would enjoy all of those good things. I have tried to grow aconites but they didn't like our soil, or maybe the location. Perhaps I'll have another go - it took years to persuade hellebores to grow for me and now they are having babies all over the place.

The simple things are alway the best. Long tailed tits are just so lovely, they make amazing nests if you've ever seen them on Springwatch. They only deigned to visit my garden feeders in the very bad winters we had not so long ago, such a treat. Hope there's not too much more snow to come, my old dog struggles to stay upright in the slippery conditions, his back legs are so weak, down he goes :(